And they called them the wild Rovers…

The Land Rover is an undisputed icon of British motoring.

Those boxy, quasi-military trucks we’ve learned to call Defenders, but from 1948 until the early ’90s were simply ‘Land Rovers’.

Defenders may have gained better engines and suspension over the decades, but right till the end remained intimidating beasts: heavy and slow, surprisingly cramped, a car you wrestled through every corner and gear change. Made by Jaguar Land Rover, the final one came off the production line in 2016.

Enter Arkonik, a West Country outfit that knows what’s right about old Defenders
– and what’s wrong, too. It takes a used example – one at a time, so each is unique – and rebuilds it for you: upgrading, replacing or reshaping components so it’s better than new.

It’s an extensive process, and you can spend ‘Aston’ money without even trying – though, of course, many customers do try, happily ticking away at a seemingly endless option list. Want to replace the engine with a brand new 430 horsepower Chevy LS3 V8? Of course, sir. How about a new leather-and-tweed interior? Absolutely.

Building for Britain

It was only last year that Arkonik returned to the UK market, a decision encouraged by the development of a car named ‘UJO’ – “our new signature build,” Andy says, “built as a ‘restomod’ recreation of my own personal ’83 V8 110CSW” – and the subsequent launch of a new ‘Special Vehicle Operations’ division.

This is intended to allow for more radical builds, often revolving around larger capacity engines, such as those mighty LS3 V8s. Base cars are sourced from Europe’s warmest, most rust-free corners, though occasionally a customer will supply their own. Right now, for instance, Arkonik’s first UK client since 2014 has his own RHD Defender in for restoration.

The results are always more polished and easy to live with than the original car, but you never forget they’re old Land Rovers – and you still bang your elbow on the door while twirling the giant steering wheel.

Though each car is different, most revolve around one of three styles – Classic, Urban or Adventure – tailored for its intended use. “Some will have a road-bias with lowered suspension, others will boast a host of overland accessories, but the same 4WD functionality is always present,”
Andy says.

“Our clients cover a broad range, from car collectors who’ll have a number of exotic vehicles to families who want to treat every journey as an adventure.”